The drive over the Dragons Tails’ many twists and turns was like a roller coaster from hell. Three hundred plus twisting flip flops that made the street do circles upon itself. The sides of the road came to an abrupt end and just dropped off, straight down.
My wife, Teresa, held on to the cars oh-shit bar for dear life, afraid to let go of her little piece of safety as we sped over the road turns of death. “ Oh shit! Oh crap! Oh my! slow down. Take it slow!!” her voice squealed
Half way through the Dragons Tail, the sky opened up in a torrential storm. Rain water rushed down The mountain sides turning them into deadly waterfalls of mud; tides of water ran down over the road top in a consistent wash.
Our destination lie miles ahead and I swore we would not be stopped by the rain, not now, not when we were so close. Besides, there were no exit ramps. As the wife dug her claws into the small handle above the door we drove on.
Three miles later the twists and turns of the Dragons Tail slowed as we neared its end. At the half mile mark the road straightened, at a quarter mile we drove into a small country town.
Our getaway laid a few measly miles away and I wasn’t stopping until we got there. I drove the car over the rumbling metal grate of a covered bridge as we left the town behind.
I turned to Teresa and smiled, happy to be sharing the trip with her, as it was our first vacation together in over a year. Ahead, just off to the side of the road, we noticed a metal chain link fence. It was folded open to allow entrance-We Drove through it. When we did time seemed to go backwards, as we entered what ill call the Boondocks.
****************
The houses here were nothing more than wooden shacks and double-wide trailers. Each of the homes had a dirt driveway that tied directly into the road. In most of the yards there were fresh ponds. Around the ponds laid a myriad of used cars, used parts, and plastic furniture. Dead trees stood in every yard and from the trees tire swings swung like the arms of a pendulum.
The sides of the road were filled with piles of chopped wood, signs around these read wood for sale. I drove past them and glanced at my wife and as I felt my eyebrows rise and my lips part she gave me a stare of contempt. I knew better than to speak and turned my eyes back to the road and to the vacation ahead.
A few minutes later we came to a turnoff, as we took it birds scattered before us. Immediately I got a creepy feeling deep inside my bones. The last mile we drove down a dirt path until we came upon our destination. Our Smoky Mountain vacation home stood up on top of a rolling hill, to the side of it sat a paved driveway. We pulled into the driveway and parked.
The house loomed large- A two story ranch assembled to look like a log cabin with many windows. An attached outdoor overhang led up towards a red door. As we walked toward the building, we decided to stretch our legs a bit and have a look around the home.
Behind the home a playset and trampoline stood half hidden by an avalanche of weeds . Next to the weeds, Just off the paved driveway, a set of redwood steps lead up to an upper porch. Just off those sat another set of steps, these were made of stone and lead down to a lower level.
Together we decided to walk back around to the front door. Slowly we entered and stood in the living area. To the left of us was the kitchen, to the right sat a huge dining room. Every room was of an open design, only separated by the furniture in it.
In the living area two brown leather couches sat in front of a widescreen television. A scattering of windows let the light in and showed off a picturesque mountain side view. The kitchen had a refrigerator and a sink all connected by counters. The dining area had an antique table complete with a table setting of eight, an equal amount of chairs sat under each setting.
I felt my heart leap at the thought of spending a weekend away from work, certain people, and the normal day to day stresses that each day had brought. We immediately made ourselves at home by sitting down on the couches. Teresa laid on one couch her shoes off, her feet up. I sat on the other. We smiled at each other but spoke not a word.
Sitting there I wanted to kick off my shoes and take a nap, but Instead decided to walk back out to the car. Once there I fetched the luggage and brought them inside. I set them down as I entered the living room, and then turned around to take in the fresh mountain air. As I did I felt an urge to go back outdoors, once there I was overtook with the wonder and the serenity of the area.
The hill on which the house stood lead down to a valley, at the bottom of the valley a huge lake sat with water that shone like diamonds in the sun. Boats on the lakes surface looked like ants from the position I took up on the hill. Not being able to help myself I giggled. No neighbors, wildlife all around us-this was truly heaven.
I could hear Teresa as she opened the door leading onto the porch above. As I looked up our eyes met. She smiled, I could see her eyes sparkle as if they held stars. I couldn’t help but feel love for her and soon found myself pulled to her side.
As we stood there I felt an icy breeze roll down off the mountains. Being tired and cold we decided to call it a day, walking back indoors we reentered the living room. There I picked up our bags and brought them to the master bedroom. Teresa followed.
The bedroom lay adorned in early settler style decor. A large pioneer styled bed sat high off the ground, on both it’s sides two matching night stands stood. Across the room a matching dresser and drawers set slid against one wall. Above the dresser hung a huge rounded mirror and a few portraits of the mountain view.
The room Off the bedroom was the bathroom, In it I could see a Jacuzzi tub, I yearned for the heated water of a bath, without hesitance I walked into the room and turned on the tubs faucets. As the water steamed into the tub Teresa yelled in letting me know she had thrown together a meal made from the groceries that we had brought.
I frowned as my stomach growled, giving in to hunger, I turned the faucets off and ran to the kitchen. There I grabbed a prepared plate consisting of a peanut butter sandwich, potato chips and from the fridge I grabbed a soda. I took dinner in hand and plumped myself in front of the television. Turning it on, I took a bite of the sandwich and chewed.
The televisions fuzzy picture came on showing an infomercial, its boredom caused my mind to race back to the bath. Once my appetite was satisfied I stood, took my plate to the sink and then sauntered back to the tub. Teresa followed closely and joined me in its Luke warm waters.
As we sat, we watched the mountainside through a window that sat beside the tub. The skies outside darkened, and the temperature indoors plummeted, the room and the water grew cold.
A heavy thud came from some place in the house. We turned, faced each other and immediately climbed from the tub. I grabbed her arm and motioned her to stay as I slowly went from room to room to investigate. I saw nothing out of place on the first floor. So, slowly I descended the stairway, carefully I crept down each step.
The bottom floor contained two more bedrooms, another bathroom and a door leading to the first floor porch. The door stood wide open. The wind that came through the door had caused a picture to fall off the wall. Quickly I cleaned the mess, closed the door, and locked it.
I then went room to room making sure nothing else had happened, as I did Teresa screamed down in a panic,” What was it Hun. Anything to worry about?”
” Nope! All’s well. The wind blew the door open, and knocked something off the wall.” I said while the feeling of something watching me lingered.
” You ready for bed?”
I felt my limbs slip down as loose as jelly with the mention of sleep. I was fighting to keep my eyes open. ” I sure am.”
I took one last look around the room, and then ran back upstairs. There I walked straight into the bedroom, dressed in my pajamas and then joined Teresa in front of the television. Moments later we walked around the house, checking and locking all the windows and doors. We checked them twice and then we turned off the television and went into the bedroom. Once there we climbed into bed and slipped between the sheets.
I pulled the blanket up under my chin, turned toward Teresa and kissed her goodnight as I nestled in holding her tight. Sleep quickly over took me.
The first nights sleep was rough. The room temperature that night fell to just below freezing. I quickly woke and walked from the bedroom into the living room in search of the thermostat. I found it and turned up the heat. I then went back to bed. Restlessly I laid there as a cloud of my own breath floated before my face.
Minutes turned into hours of non-sleep, until I could take no more. I stood up and walked into the living room, there I went around the house rechecking for any open doors or windows, finding none on the top floor I walked downstairs, to the back bedroom and the homes main heater.
The heaters lighter pilot was lit, as I stood and watched the heat kicked on. I couldn’t figure out why I was so cold. Suddenly, a noise came from the room next door.
I crept from the heater, out into the hall between rooms. There I found the outside door opened once more. The same door that had blown open earlier. The same one I closed before. The exact same door I knew I had locked.
I closed and locked the door once more and then feeling tired, went back to bed. Once there sleep overtook me. A few hours passed as I laid there freezing but quickly warmed up as the sun shone through the bedrooms set of glass sliding doors. I woke, walked to the door, that some how I didn’t see before. The doorway led out onto the upper back porch.
The bedroom was big and bright, the wife was already up, dressed and out on the porch. I walked out to join her, In the halo of the light of day she looked angelic. She kissed my forehead and I smiled.
In a voice as pretty as an angels wings she spoke. ” Good Morning! I take it you didn’t sleep well?”
” Unfortunately no, I froze all night. I was up checking windows, doors, even the heater-All worked.” I said keeping the basement door a secret.
” Sorry to hear that Hun” She placed the back of her hand to my forehead. “No fever.”
She smiled and then stretched her arms outwards as if to encompass her surroundings. Her shirt lifted slightly showing her wonderfully smooth white skin. I could feel my self get aroused, but the previous night had gotten the best of me. I hurt to move.
I watched as she left the porch and walked indoors. Tired, I walked into the bedroom where I could feel the carpet below my feet. It was soft and already warm to the touch. Slowly I walked to where our luggage now sat and got dressed. As I placed one leg into a pair of denims the wife began to scream bloody murder. I almost fell over as the jeans were pulled up and buttoned.
I ran from the room to where she stood. There I looked into her face as she shook in fear. Her breath was shallow.
” Hun what’s…”
I didn’t finish speaking before she broke into a state of frantic speech. ” The kitchen.. It’s a disaster.. Something made a mess…All over the house!”
As we walked out of the kitchen, I was at a loss for words. She was correct, the house was destroyed. Dishes we’re thrown everywhere, broken.
Food, the stuff we brought was strewn every which way. Big puddles of water and what ever else made gooey messes on the floors and walls.
Loose trails of flour crossed the kitchen floor into the living room. There all the couch cushions now lined the outer wall. Every window now stood completely open.
” I thought you said you checked and locked all the windows?”
“I did! I know I did!” I stood stunned.
Several hours later we had picked up and cleaned the mess. We left the windows open and even opened the doors to allow fresh air in as we replaced the couch cushions and sat down exhausted.
I looked at a clock lying on a nearby wall surprised to see it read 12:00. My stomach growled, I needed lunch, but knew all the food in the house now laid in the trash.
“So, I’m starving!” I said as Teresa looked at me in surprised awe.
Soon, we decided to head out and find our way to the closest town. We got into the car and drove to the town we saw off the Dragons Tail. It stood nestled deep within the belly of the beast like a deep hidden secret. It was a small town consisting of a gas station, a grocery store and some mom and pop type stores. One of those buildings, lucky for us, was a diner.
The diners parking lot stood void of cars. We pulled in, parked the car and then exited the car to stand in front of the building. The place looked new. It was square, made of white adobe with Windows on every side. The roof was of red tile, leaves and moss had already filled it’s eaves. The windows laid completely shut by shades of mulitcolors.
An antique f100 sat in the yard. It held a sign that read the restaurants name and hours. The truck had a rusted blue body that looked as if it had sat there for a while. Its tires were flat with age.
I wondered if the place was open. But, starving walked up to try the door- it swung open with ease. Inside, just ahead of us sat the register. Beside it a counter reached across the back wall. People filled its bar stools to capacity. On the left and right sides of the building stood six booths, these had people at them too.
My jaw lowered as I sat astonished to the number of people there were, especially in consideration of the dark atmosphere viewed from the outside. Where we’re all the cars, have they all walked here I wondered. As my wife squeezed my hand. I knew she was questioning things as well.
A lady wearing a white and blue waitress uniform ushered us in. Her brown hair lay brushed back and pinned down with a blue clip. Her teeth we’re off white, a few Of them missing. Her frail arm motioned us to a table.
” Go yon’ ahead and ave a seat ov’r there and I’ll be right with ya’ll” She spoke in a form of back mountain dialect.
We did as she asked. While we sat down and squeezed ourselves into the booth I felt every eye in the house upon us. The air of the place smelt of a thick musk covered over by pine scent air fresheners.
We sat several minutes without her coming around. In that amount of time I got a better look at the people around me. All the people seemed to be dirty, not stinky but filthy as did the waitress. Each man, woman and child seemed to be differently garbed in some form of bygone era.
I leaned over the table, placed my hand to the outside of my mouth to mask my words ” Hun I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore!” She smiled.
As the waitress came over to get our drink order I felt fear freeze on my face. In the kitchen stood a giant of a man, in his fist he held a huge cleaver. I saw him raise it high into the air and as I watched he brought it down, fast and heavy. I winced as blood splattered the kitchen red.
” Sir can I take your drink order” I sat quiet, my mouth open in shock. “
“Sir can I take your order?” She asked again even louder
As she began to shout I watched the huge man lean over the counter. His face splattered by the blood, his shirt and apron painted red. He stared dead eyed into my face.
” Umm.., no! I think we made a mistake.” I said quivering in my shoes
” Hun what’s wrong. I’m hungry can we please order. “
” Ummm.. No I’m sorry Hun I feel sick. I think I have a flu coming on.” I rebutted while grabbing her arm and leading her past the waitress to flee from the premises.
As we ran out, in my head I could hear them all laughing. As the car door closed I could still hear them laugh. As we silently drove across the street to the grocers I could still hear them, I could still see them. The grocery store, though small had plenty for us to fill the fridge back at the house.
The wife walked between the aisles picking up things for the week. Toilet paper, lunch meat and other essentials quickly made their way into the cart. Before long the cart was half full. Hungry we went up to the registers to cash out.
As I paid the cashier she turned to look at me. I grabbed the bags and stuffed them in the cart as she grabbed a soda and candy bar. Moments later, her eyes still stared at me brazenly cold as I loaded the groceries into the back seat of the car.
” Are you ok. Have you gone nuts?” She asked in a shrill voice
” Not sure what you mean” I rebutted while acting stupid
” The restaurant, I’m starving. Why did you act that way? It was embarrassing!”
I thought for a moment searching for the right words. Did she not see the blood, didn’t she think it odd the way the people we’re dressed, not to mention the way they acted. I had to wonder if it was all in my mind.
Instead of asking her the obvious questions I just played it off” Sorry Hun, I just didn’t, haven’t felt well. I Thought I was about to get sick and didn’t think that was the place to do it in.”
Finally her eyes lightened and her face grew less tense. As I put the last bag into the car she walked to the passengers side door, opened it and as she slid I closed it. I then ran around to the drivers side, opened the door and entered before lightly closing it.
I then started the car as she bent over and gave me a kiss on the cheek.” Sorry Hun I didn’t know.” She then unwrapped the candy bar and gave me the first bite.
Driving home was great. The leaves we’re changing. A light breeze blew through the window and with it a sweet smell of fresh mountain air. The drive took no time and as we neared the house she gently took my hand in hers and gave a loving squeeze
As the car entered the driveway she held my hand firmly. When we parked she let go and gave me another kiss to the cheek. “Finally home” She said as we exited the vehicle.
I stood outside in the warm sun as a slight gust swept by, sending chills down my spine. My feet froze like giant ice cubes as I spied moving across the upper back porch two small pitch black shadows.
These shadows moved swiftly out of view as I watched them. Their shapes we’re too short for adults but way to big for an animal. I scratched my balding head in contemplation, immediately my mind was sent to a conclusion, children. What we’re children doing here, I asked myself.
The shadows we’re definitely in the right shape and height. I climbed the back steps and as I turned the corner what ever they were was now gone. There was absolutely no sign of them.
I had to sit down. Was I losing my mind? I had to think for a moment. But as I slid down the houses outer wall, Teresa called from inside the house.
“Hun! Are you bringing in the groceries. I’m starved”
Sliding back up the wall I got to my feet. Slowly I walked from the back porch to the car, there I Opened the rear door, grabbed the groceries and carried them in with one fail swoop.
Once inside I placed the groceries in the kitchen, and as Teresa put them away I made my way to the back bedroom. Once there I laid down on the bed. Making myself comfortable above the covers I turned towards the rooms picture window.
After doing so I began to cry out in a low shrill of fright. When I looked out the window towards the mountain two children stared back in at me.
Their eyes were blazoned red as if on fire. Their clothes and bodies filthy of mud, dirt and decay. Their faces pale as smoke, their mouths blood red. One child, a boy of five or maybe six, was dressed in blue jean dungarees.
The other child was a young girl. Her eyes looked the same as the boys. She wore a pink dress over grey stockings that were definitely white at one time. Her hair reminded me of a young Shirley Temple.
As I watched screaming a brown bug crawled out through the boys nose and fell into the boys open mouth.
When the bug disappeared the boy smiled a devilish grin, and then placed his face upon the outer window. I watched and felt myself get sick. I laid there breaking out in tears as the little girl clawed at her eyes, as they fell to the ground in chunks her face turned to a tortured scream.
I closed my eyes as my wife ran into the bedroom.” What’s wrong?, Honey what’s the matter” She asked.
I heard her but I couldn’t answer, l was afraid to open my eyes. Enough was enough I told myself, I could take no more. This was supposed to be a vacation, but it had been nothing but a nightmare. I turned as I felt the bed sink with weight as she sat behind me. I turned around to look into Teresa’s eyes.
“Honey, are you ok” she said with a wavering tone. I could sense her fear.
“I am fine now that your here.” I said in a voice that made a weak attempt to not make her question my sanity.
She placed her hand on my forehead to check for a fever, she found none. I could see her frown lines furl in contemplation. I quickly sat up and kissed her softly on the lips.
“Honey I am fine. Sorry I’ve made a bad go of this vacation, I promise that will change, starting now!” I sat up, swung my legs over the bed and stood. “Tell you what lets go back into town, get some drinks and have a good dinner” I smiled as I saw her give a toothy grin that changed the mood of the moment in an instant.
We walked out of the room in a mad rush for our shoes. After a moment of instantaneous house cleaning, we slid our shoes on and left, locking the house behind us. I turned the keys in my hand and searched for the car key that I kept there. I came up empty. Unlocking the door I ran to the bedroom in a mad search for the missing key. I looked out the bedroom window towards the picturesque Smoky Mountain view beyond the upper back porch I felt different some how.
I turned and found the key on top of the bed. I grabbed it and ran back out the front door locking it behind me. I unlocked the car doors and as we entered I turned the key and the car immediately started.
We backed out of the driveway, shifted into drive and exited off the property. The drive into town brought more shadows, but I paid them no attention. Some how I felt like things would change for the better. That night we drank and ate well into the wee hours of morning.
The next day I woke from a heavy sleep as the light shone bright through the bedroom window. Slowly, I opened my eyes. I reached behind me to check if Teresa was still in bed. I felt her backside and snuggled up tight against it and closed my eyes.
Hours later I peeked from under my eyelids and watched a form sitting on the porch. As I fully awoke I noticed the figure was my wife. Yet, I was still laying butt to butt with something that laid in our bed. I jumped out of bed. As my feet hit the floor, I turned and looked back to an unkempt bed.
I searched the room and found nothing out of place. Not wanting to think the worse, I blew it off, and walked out of the room in hopes of the coffee pot still being on.
I entered the kitchen and poured a cup of steaming coffee. I heard the back door open, and then slam shut. I turned, I looked, and prayed it was Teresa. But, she still sat on the porch.
Almost as if she had grown the gift of telepathy, she turned her eyes towards me and smiled. I watched as she motioned me to come be next to her, picking up my coffee cup I briskly went outdoors. I turned to face the picturesque mountain side as she grasped my hand in hers and tenderly squeezed.
” Did you sleep well? You seemed to. I couldn’t wake you to save my life” She giggled.
“Sorry about that! I did sleep well, needed it. I haven’t slept well since we got here. I guess I made up for it last night” I laughed, while inside I felt chilled to the bone. Afraid for us both.
She pulled her self up closer to me. Her thigh touched mine as she leaned in close and gave me a kiss. My lips met hers. My fears took a second seat to thoughts of seduction.
Taking her hand in mine I pulled her into my arms and lead her back into the house. Once there we went into the bedroom and stripped down.
I kissed her lips, my loins yearned to touch her. I tossed her down onto the firm mattress. It’s springs creaked as I straddled on top of her. The next fifteen minutes we spent investigating each other in interlocked desires. Unable to stop, I sank myself deeply into her. As she screamed in passion I thrust lightly, then harder and harder until finally bursting into unstoppable pleasure. At the moment of heightened sex we screamed out in unison. As I finished, I felt my self go limp I pulled out and turned on my back, next to her.
She smiled, and then sat up to lean against the headboard. She turned towards me, her eyebrows arched ever so slightly. I looked into her big blue eyes.
“So, you going to tell me why you’ve been acting so weird on this trip, the trip, the only one we’ve taken since you started writing your damn horror novels?” She blurted out scornfully.
Caught off guard at the out burst I back peddled with my thinking. Then came up with some thing believable fast. ” Umm! I’m sorry.” I hung my head in shame wondering why an apology was the first thing to come to mind.
” Not good enough!” She said, her head hung low enough to touch her breasts, as if she were trying to bury it there. She Waited a second for an answer that never came and then repeated herself. ” Well try again, why have you acted so weird on this trip?”
I had to come up with something fast if not there’d be no more nookie for this sugar cookie. I smiled, and then replied ” I’ve been umm… Ill!” I could instantly tell she didn’t believe me.
” Uh-huh! And I’ve been sick. Sick and tired of hearing your excuses!” At that she threw off the blankets and turned her body around to jump from the bed.
I reached out and grabbed her wrist before her feet could hit the floor. “Look I am sorry! I’m not sure what’s come over me but things here, in this house and … Well in the town are really weird. Doors have opened on their own, I’ve seen odd visions of ghastly things, I’ve seen shadows of people that have come then dissipated as I watched. I know you don’t believe it and possibly think I’ve gone nuts but there is something seriously wrong here!”
Her feet hit the floor as she shrugged my fingers from around her wrist.” Your right something is weird here and that something is You.” She said as she frowned before running into the bathroom.
I could see her from where I sat in bed. I watched as she turned the water at the tub to hot. As she plugged the tub I watched her stare out the big window positioned over the tub. I thought she was looking at the panorama of the mountainside which shone picture perfect from that location.
I watched her head turn in my direction. But, noticed she was staring past me, out past the bedroom door as if she were somewhere deep in thought. I wasn’t sure what she saw. Her eyes tightened into deep shock, her face grew pale, her mouth opened to scream.
I turned and saw a large dark shadow grow over the back porch. The shadow had no shape at first. But, as I watched it come closer it took on a human form. I could see the shape of a huge cleaver in one of its hands.
As She shrieked in terror the house shook with a heavy thud. I stood watching her as she ran and ducked under the bed covers. She dug her nails deep into my skin. I knew if this was that man I’d fair no better than a one legged dog in a greyhound race.
I walked over and threw open the sliding glass doors, as I did the shadow disappeared. I stepped out onto the porch and looked down to the side of the house. What I saw froze me on the spot- a cleaver, hell the biggest meat cleaver I ever saw, was buried deep into the siding of the home.
I felt Teresa come up behind me. As she gripped my waist, she tried to look at what I saw. I quickly ushered her back inside.
” Hey! What’s the big idea? What was that??”
” I saw it too. But, as I said before things like that have been going on since we got here.”
As we sat talking in the bedroom about the event the door in the other room, the locked door, blew open hitting the living room wall with such a force we thought the plaster on our side was going to cave.
Naked, I ran into the other room. Again I saw nothing. A freezing cold chill went down my spine I watched as she stood in the bedroom doorway. I closed the door, then adjourned back to the bedroom. She followed, together we put on our clothes. I dressed quickly Into a pair of Jeans and a hoodie, her in jeans and a deep burgundy turtle neck that showed her deep cleavage. I felt my self swell in the crotch at the sight of how good she looked.
I stepped from the room out onto the back porch, down the stairs, and towards where I saw the cleaver. I Searched the outer wall for any signs of the large blade and found nothing, not even a whole where it may have been.
She followed me outdoors, seeing nothing out of the ordinary she walked around to the front of the house as I stood with thoughts of canceling the vacation and putting myself in the loony bin.
Moments later she rushed from the house “ Ready to go?”
I almost jumped for joy thinking she had had enough of these vacation oddities too. But, instead she threw me my sneakers and shouted ” Put them on, let’s head into town. It’s festivities day, I don’t want to miss a second of it.”
” Did I miss something here. Weren’t you screaming in horror a minute ago?”
” Yeah! But it’s probably just the kids in town playing a little joke.”
“Some joke” I said putting my sneakers on. Minutes later I slid into the drivers seat; She climbed into the passengers seat as I felt an urge to state the obvious” That was some big shadow for a kid!”
“Yeah, we’re in the country now. The country always grows things big.” She said totally dismissing the events of the last hour.
I shrugged my shoulders knowing fighting with her wouldn’t do any good. I started the car and then drove toward town.
The drive was lonesome. The whole time I sat driving she sat staring out the window. I could tell something heavy was on her mind, what it was I had no idea. If I dared to fathom a guess, I’m sure her anger involved my so called out of touch attitude.
I didn’t care if she talked or not. For all I cared, she could stay turned and keep quietly looking out her window. I knew what I saw and what I saw had happened. How? I didn’t know. But, it had and I wanted it to stop. However, she wanted to go to this festival so that is where we were heading.
In town the streets were littered with people. Bikers were everywhere. Their bikes lined both sides of the road. The men wore leather jackets and vests. Emblems of just about every known bike gang and chapter known to man were represented. If they didn’t have their gang names sewn some place on their jackets they were wearing it on their tattooed sleeves.
The women bikers wore little to nothing, most looked like they could be pinup girls for any number of girly magazines. There were more long haired Harley babes than I Had ever seen at any rally. Most were either laying or standing around their man.
As we drove through town looking for a parking spot I noticed that there were others, people like me and the wife, people that didn’t belong-tourists that fit in like a chicken in a hen house. If they didn’t have a camera in their hands, it was hanging around their necks. Most of these folk were dressed more for the beach than a turn out of this kind.
I came across a parking spot in a far off corner of the towns diner, yes that diner. I didn’t want to be anywhere near the place. But, I also didn’t want to piss off the wife any more than I already had. We parked and Exited the car. We walked up to the restaurant and rested, as we stood fiddles played in the background. The air was filled with the smells of barbecued meats, cotton candy and fair food.
Walking towards the music we passed a woman crying crocodile tears “My husband, anyone seen my husband?” She cried before going into an all out panic, “Harold!.. Harold! Where are you?” She yelled in an all out burst of fear before running down the street towards a center staging area. We followed her to a set of school bleachers, there we climbed up to a bench and sat.
From there I watched as a man came and whisked the poor woman away from the crowd. As they left from view, I noticed them pass a huge vented box. The box resembled a pet crate.
I tried to listen to the crate, while sitting on the bleachers behaving myself, but heard no sound. However, I saw shadows race inside it. The shape went corner to corner, pacing the inner area of that crate like a caged animal.
As I watched an arm reached out from the crate, missing a woman as she walked by. As I watched the arm continued to reach for people. The butcher from the diner stood guard, his cleaver clutched in one large fist. I watched the butcher as he slapped the arm away before it could touch another passing woman.
The crowd cheered as an announcer walked out in front of the bleachers. As he reached the center of spectators, he spoke in a carnival barkers cadence to announce the days events. The crowd stood in applause as he continued.
“Ladies and gentleman of all ages, to the old and young alike. To all visitors and town residents, We welcome you to this years games.” He paused “We as always are starting today’s festivities with the annual running of the greased hog.”
The crowd erupted in a standing ovation as we all watched the announcer walk off. The butcher at the box pounded heavily on the containers side. The man inside howled as if it were an injured animal. The chef then went to the front of the box and opened it’s door, as the door opened the person inside, naked as a jaybird, ran out. I gasped in horror.
I looked over at the wife, her hand covered her eyes as children from the crowd were beckoned by the announcer to grab their weapons and enter the playing field. I continued to watch as eight young kids waving wooden mallet in their hands entered the arena.
“Let the games begin” The announcer yelled to the applause of the crowd.
The naked man ran towards the crowd of onlookers, as he did people around the arena reached arm to arm to form a circle around the game. The man panicked as the children ran at him, their mallets held high into the air. He squealed like a pig in a panic as the town folk blocked his way. The children laughed in glee as they ran toward him.
Men and women kicked at his groin turning him towards the bleachers. Blood ran from his face in a crimson gusher as a child, the first to reach him, held his mallet high and then brought it down with a lethal blow.
I turned toward Teresa and pushed our way through of the bleachers when this happened. The children from the house waved us forward as we fled. I ran in their direction with Teresa in tow, gasping in a blind panic as we followed the children’s lead.
Noises of laughter and shouts of pain came from the center stage area as we continued following the children to our car. I pushed Teresa into car and then ran to the drivers side door. I climbed in and started it. Seconds later a giant cleaver came down beside us, barely missing the trunk..
I backed the car up and the shifted it into gear, as we began to drive out of town, I watched a crowd of locals attack the bikers. The bikers quickly pulled guns and had begun shooting into the crowd. To our left I could see the butcher. I pushed on the gas and the image faded from view. The sounds of gun fire raining upon the screaming crowd filled the air.
We raced from the town towards home, the bikers followed. They were fewer in number from whence the festivities began. They came in a double line of motorcycles and as they caught up to us they encircled our car, we had our own parade.
I could see the bikers smile, but as I looked back to the rearview mirror my own smile fell dead away. The bikers weren’t the only things following us.
The hillbillies were coming from the mountains in droves, as if in an endless number they came down the mountains and surrounded us. I didn’t, couldn’t stop the car for fear drove me on. Heading towards the Dragons Tail we reached the gate, it was closed. A car laid wrecked beside it, just off the side of the road. It looked like who ever drove it had attempted to crash the gate and failed, miserably.
We stopped the car, the bikers tapped on our window as we rested before the gate.
“Dude you may want to move.” A biker stated as his gloved hand pointed behind us.
I looked in the rear view mirror at what he was pointing at. A man drove towards us with a wrecker. I moved the car from his way.
He stopped where we were, removed a heavy chain off the truck and tied its hooked end around the gate. He then jumped back in the truck cab and wound the chain up with the trucks automated hoist. As the hook pulled, the chain link fence tightened until moments later the gate gave away in a shower of silver steel. The truck then drove forward through the gate, we followed.
Driving the Dragons Tail at high speed we made it home, alive.
******************
I now drive a Harley of my own and meet up with our saviors from time to time. They state they found the town by mistake years back and venture to it every year at the creatures time of festivities. I have never gone with them. But, I wish them well.
[bctt tweet=”OCTOBER TERROR 2018 Short Story Award – Entry #59 ‘Boondocks’ by Brian Wemesfelder – Enjoy all this terrific, disturbing material you have in your hands, lots of horror stories at your disposal for your dark delight and vote!” username=”theboldmom”]
On October 23rd we’ll close submissions and open a poll for the readers to choose their favourite one! You’ll have a week to make your choice and on October 31st we’ll announce the winner!!!
